The Acts of Disciples
They Believe in the Coming Judgement – Part II
Scripture Reading: Acts 17:22-34
Key Verses: Acts 17:30-31
The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.
From repentance, Paul moved on to God’s judgement. He declared that God had “fixed” a day for the Judgment of God to take place.
The site bibleref.com gives a good description of this judgement:
Just as God determined the dates and places of nations (Acts 17:26), He determined when judgment would occur. He will judge based on what is right and wrong; not on how people think they should live their lives, but on how He intended us to live our lives. God the Father has commissioned God the Son to be the Judge (John 5:22-23). He will divide those who are saved from those who aren’t (Matthew 25:31-46), He will reward the works of those who are saved (1 Corinthians 4:5), and He will determine the punishment of the unsaved (Revelations 20:11-15). Jesus has the authority because He is righteous, as validated by the Father raising Him from the dead.
John Maxwell, a popular leadership author and speaker, declares, “People don’t do what you expect, they do what you inspect”. There are not many exceptions to this statement. I thought of this statement when I came to these verses about God’s judgment. God is going to “inspect” our lives one day, and Jesus wants all people to know of this judgement.
Jesus let us know that the only truths that we are responsible for are those that have been made clear to us:
“And a servant who knows what the master wants, but isn’t prepared and doesn’t carry out those instructions, will be severely punished. But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.” (Luke 12:47-48)
Judgement Day is coming, are you preparing for it? This is not a complicated issue; it simply boils down to an honest evaluation of your obedience to the things God has made clear to you. Do you stay active in being obedient, getting back up if you blow it (and we all do blow it)?
God judges the difference between failures caused by lack of effort, and failures due to lapses in our self-control.
Most parents do not punish their child for failure when we see that they are really trying. However, it is a different story if we see that they are making excuses and have put forth little effort.
If we can judge our children for their effort, how much better can our Father in Heaven see the reasons for our failures!
Father, please remind me to put forth my full effort to be obedient to all the truths that You have made clear to me. I ask this in Jesus’s Name, amen.